Dwayne Allen Thomas

About Dwayne Allen Thomas

I’ve been fortunate to build a career across three separate tracks: law, writing, and psychology.For the first seven years of my legal career, I served as a law clerk and court attorney for two judges in the New York State Unified Court System. There, I helped to administer more than cases, assisted in the administration of more than 100 trials, ran more than 250 settlement conferences, and drafted more than 200 judicial decisions. As of 2022, only one has been overturned. I also presided over my own arbitrations in Small Claims Court.Today, I work in the New York City Law Department’s Risk Management Division, analyzing litigation risks and conducting large research projects. Outside of law, I author a blog titled The Cross-Examined Life for Psychology Today. My articles have been viewed more than times, and PT has promoted approximately one-third of my articles to Essential Post, Read, or Topic. I also author a Substack titled The Ink Trap, where I write fiction, poetry, and essays that are usually unrelated to psychology.Along the way, I also graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology program, served as VP of MAPP’s alumni association, worked as an assistant instructor in its Applied Positive Psychology Certificate program, and I currently read applications for prospective MAPP students. Perhaps the best part of my career has been applying what I learn in one space to the others. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Experience

1. Senior Counsel

   Nyc Law Department

   Aug 2023 — Present

Education

• University of Pennsylvania

  Master of Applied Positive Psychology

  2015 — 2016

• Baruch College

  BBA, Finance

• Brooklyn Law School

  Doctor of Law (J.D.)

  2010 — 2013

Skills

• Event Planning
• Fundraising
• Legal Writing
• Project Management
• Editing
• Legal Research
• Microsoft Office
• Public Relations
• Public Speaking
• Management